A new chapter begins for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra – and for the city’s music lovers.
On Oct. 3-4, Romanian-born conductor Cristian Măcelaru, known simply as Cristi to friends and colleagues, makes his formal debut as the CSO’s 14th music director. At just 44, he brings youthful vitality and global experience that promise to energize the orchestra and captivate audiences.
Măcelaru opens the CSO’s 2025–26 season at Music Hall with a diverse program: Gershwin’s “Concerto in F” with pianist Hélène Grimaud, Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier Suite” and Anna Clyne’s “Abstractions,” highlighting the orchestra’s embrace of contemporary voices.
Movers & Makers caught up with Măcelaru ahead of these milestone performances to reflect on his journey to Cincinnati and hear what concertgoers can expect under his baton.
Q&A
Movers & Makers: What excites you about this orchestra? About being a musical leader in this city?
Măcelaru: I have discovered such a beautiful connection between the orchestra and the community of Cincinnati, one that really opens up possibilities of enrichment and unity. Classical music is an art form based on expressing our emotions in a direct and compelling way, through the means of a language common to all people – music. In Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s mission of relevance to its community I found a shared vision and dream I have myself, to explore the many ways the transformative power of music as a means to connect us can benefit the greater Cincinnati region. I look forward to being at the heart of it all, now that I am at the helm of the CSO. It is a vibrant city with a rich history and passion for the arts, one which aligns perfectly with my views as well.
M&M: What would you most like Cincinnati audiences to know about you as a person?
Măcelaru: My personal philosophy is “the possibility of better” and I like to build everything I do from a foundation of respect and love for one another. In my limited free time, I am a passionate chess player, and nature is my go-to source of inspiration, peace and joy.
M&M: How do you see your relationship with the city and region evolving? How would you like to be known?
Măcelaru: I am looking forward to building a trust with our audiences, and hope they will embrace my curiosity and the creative ways I like to express myself. I am deeply rooted in tradition but always with an eye towards innovation and exploration. My focus is always on building relationships that are mutually beneficial and fruitful. Since music is a common language for all, and a true source of enjoyment, I hope the next few years will be filled with unforgettable moments that celebrate the purest forms of human achievement, also empowering the community to be sensitized by the emotions which are unfiltered in our music.
M&M: Name one next great composer who is still on the horizon and you would like to showcase.
Măcelaru: I have been fortunate to work with many young composers, through the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music where I am celebrating ten years of being music director, and also through many initiatives I have created to inspire very young composers to compose. There are far too many composers to list, and I am also truly passionate about each and every one of them. But as my first concert this season shows, I am a big fan of Anna Clyne’s music and I hope our audiences will embrace her work, as I have already.
M&M: What does success look like in the next five years in Cincinnati? How will you measure it, personally?
Măcelaru: Success for me is purely represented in the trust I can build with the Cincinnati community. I want the concept of attending one of our concerts to be synonymous with an experience that is sometimes profound, sometimes lighthearted, but always memorable. The strength we gain from this trust and connection through the music itself is the success I want.
Learn more about Cristian Mǎcelaru c/o our David Lyman.
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